Earlier than anticipated exit but Yuko Kato ends year in top spot

07 Nov 2016

A fourth round defeat at the hands of Chinese Taipei’s Fang Sih-Han at the recently concluded Hungarian Junior and Cadet Open in Szombathely but Japan’s Yuko Kato ends the year in top spot (4,866 points) on the 2016 ITTF World Junior Circuit Girls’ Standings.

She finishes ahead of colleagues Kana Takeuchi (4,433 points) and the two players who contested the Szombathely final. Maki Shiomi the runner up concludes matters in the third place (4,024 points), one ahead of her nemesis Hong Kong’s Minnie Soo Wai Yam (3,880 points).

Yuko Kato finished the year in first place (Photo: Richard Kalocsai)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Japanese names prominent and there is one more amongst the elite, Miyu Nagasaki, beaten by Minnie Soo Wai Yam in the Junior Girls’ Singles semi-final in Hungary, occupies seventh place (3,186 points) at the end of no less than 28 tournaments on this year’s itinerary.

However, only two players from the same national association may compete in the Girls’ Singles event in the Finals; thus for two Japanese players there will be no New Year visit to India.

Mak Tze Wing finished in fifth place (3,794 points) with next in line being Su Pei-Ling (3,794 points) and India’s Selena Selvakumar (2,920 points).

Notably, India, as the host, is eligible for one player under the competition’s regulations. However two players have finished in qualifying positions; in addition to Selena Selvakumar, Archana Girish Kamath is in the no.12 spot (2,360 points). She is behind China’s Qian Tianyi (2,800 points), Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz (2,750 points) and Romania’s Andreea Dragoman (2,700 points).

Pertinently Qian Tianyi only competed in Asia, Adriana Diaz only played in Europe; thus neither is eligible for the Finals. A player must compete in a minimum of two continents in order to qualify for the gathering in Indore.

The host nation’s Diya Parag Chitale is in the no.15 spot (1,815 points) with Amy Wang of the United States being next in the order of merit (1,710 points). Diya Parag Chitale is the third highest Indian on the list, thus her prospects of an invitation to the Finals look bleak; Amy Wang has only competed in Europe.

Therefore, Portugal’s Raquel Andrade in 17th spot (1,681 points) and Romania’s Andreea Clapa, one place lower (1,618 points) are in contention for a place in Indore.

Also, each continent is eligible for one place in the Finals; Asia and India is assured.

Meanwhile, taking into account the requirement to compete in two continents; for Africa, Tunisia’s Abir Haj Salah is the leading name (1,440 points), for Oceania, it is Australia’s Wu Jiamuwa (1,210 points), for Latin America, Brazil’s Martina Kohatsu (500 points).

No player from North America has met the two continent criteria.

The official invitation list for the 2016 ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals will be announced in the near future.